Chapter Twelve Time Flies

  Yu Shi and Lan Yini couldn't help but laugh at the remark. At this moment, the maid brought in the meal, and the couple sat down to eat together. Lan Yini set up a small table on the floor, picked out a few dishes, and had her sit on a low stool to eat. The maids stood by to attend to them.

  After finishing dinner, they chatted for a while and then each went to rest, without mentioning it again.

  The next day, Ning Fengbi got up early and went with Yu Shi to pay respects to Old Lady Jiang. After reporting back to Yu Shi, she headed towards Third Master's place. This time, however, she wasn't there to learn about medicinal herbs; the truth was that they had already covered all ten or so types yesterday. Coincidentally, Ning De Rong was reading a medical book and, seeing how clever and quick-witted Ning Fengbi was, smiled and said: "Come come come, today Grandfather will teach you to recognize characters. Hmm, shall we start with the Three Character Classic or the Thousand Character Text?"

  Ning's slender body swayed, and tears almost rolled out of her eyes. She watched Ning De Rong turn around to find the Three Character Classic on the bookshelf. In her heart, she was banging her head against the wall, loudly wailing "Let me die!"

  Spring goes and autumn comes, in the blink of an eye, three years have passed in a hurry.

  For the past three years, Ning Xianbi has almost gone to Xinglin Garden every day, following Ning Derong to learn characters and read books, picking up some common medicinal materials in the garden, recognizing some acupoints, and learning a little medical skills. The days are filled with a sense of fulfillment.

  Originally, Ning De Rong thought of staying here for a few months to reciprocate Eldest Sister-in-law's kindness, and then continue his itinerant medical practice. However, he didn't expect the arrival of little Ning Xianbi, who was liked by the old lady in every way, so naturally his desire to go out and practice medicine also faded a lot.

  Ning Xianbi followed Ning Derong's affairs every day, and Old Lady Jiang was also delighted. This actually brought the poor third brother closer to the distance of the earl's mansion.

  Watching the old lady liked it, originally several other boys and girls had also gone over a few times, but they didn't really want to get close to this third grandfather, where could they listen to those medical knowledge? Ning De Rong's heart was also very clear, just not showing on his face, smiling and responding, telling them about the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion, talking about the properties of medicinal herbs. Those children couldn't bear to listen to this for a few days, and soon stopped coming.

  It's finally quiet. With the New Year approaching and spring just around the corner, Ning Xianbi was already seven years old. Ning Derong saw that she had a talent for medicine and happily said: "When spring arrives and all things are reborn, San Ye will take you to the mountains to pick herbs. Let's see how many kinds you can bring back! We'll have a competition then!"

  As soon as Ning Xi heard that she could go out to buy vegetables, she couldn't help but jump up high. Before she even landed, she saw Lao Lai's long face, which was even longer than a donkey's. She suddenly realized that she had become too proud and lost her composure. She quickly stuck out her tongue and Ning De Rong also made a silly face at her. The two of them burst out laughing simultaneously.

  On this day, when Lao Er returned from Xinglin Garden, Lao Yima went to Madam Yu's side and reported faithfully: "Madam, it's not that I'm talking about the third old master behind his back, but...now that Liu'er is growing up, she should be going to Xinglin Garden less often and learning needlework and women's red embroidery. But the third old master actually said that when spring arrives, he will take Liu'er out to pick herbs."

  Yu furrowed his brow and asked in a low voice: "What did that girl say?"

  Lao Lao smiled and said, "What else can the young lady say? She's so happy she's jumping for joy. But I think this is a bit improper, so I had to come and tell you, madam."

  Yu sighed and said, "What's the use of you telling me? Can't you see that I'm not even in charge of this household? On one side, the master spoils her, on the other side, the old lady indulges her. Even if I don't let her go, she still won't listen to me."

  Lao Lao also knew the situation, but for such a big thing, she didn't dare to let San Lao Ye and Liu Gu Niang be wronged. Now that she had told Yu Shi, even if she couldn't stop it herself, it was no longer her concern.

  Although thinking so, just thinking that the girl will go on like this, it must be damaging to her reputation. So, she became uneasy again and said in a low voice: "Even if the young lady doesn't listen to what you say, the old lady is still a sensible person. If you report this matter to her, let's see how she decides, won't you feel at ease?"

  Yu thought for a moment, and couldn't help but nod his head and smile: "That's the way it is. Old Lady Yu is the most understanding of all, although she likes to be close to Third Elder Master, this matter of going out isn't something that can be easily agreed to. I'll talk to her about it tomorrow."

  As planned, on the second day, Ning Xianbi and Lin Daiyu arrived early at Rongguo House. Just as they entered, they met Yingge coming out of the house. Seeing them, she smiled and said: "Oh, Third Sister and Sixth Miss have come quite early today." Meanwhile, she turned her head to instruct a young maid to roll down the blinds.

  Mrs. Jiang had just finished her toilette, and upon hearing that her daughter-in-law and granddaughter were coming, she couldn't help but feel a bit surprised, and said to Zhao Ayi beside her with a smile: "This must be something important, otherwise they wouldn't have come so early." After finishing speaking, Chun Xiang and Xia Lian hurriedly supported her out of the inner room, and sat down on the Luo Han bed in the outer room. Then, Yu Shi and Ning Fenbi came out from behind the screen, and respectfully paid their respects.

  "Ha! As the saying goes, 'no gain without early rise.' You two came so early that you almost caught my old lady in bed. What brings you here?"

  Mrs. Yu's face turned red as she listened to the words, and after glancing at her daughter beside her for a long time, she finally spoke in a low voice: "My daughter-in-law has something to ask for your advice, Old Madam. Now that Xiangyu is studying with Master, my daughter-in-law is very grateful, but... it's said that after the beginning of spring, Master will take Xiangyu out to collect herbs. This... my daughter-in-law doesn't dare to make a decision on her own, so she came to ask for your advice, Old Madam."

  Mrs. Jiang frowned and said in a low voice, "Is that so? He wants to take Hua to pick herbs? Alas! After all, she's never been in the mansion since childhood, and now she's getting older, this decision is really absurd..." Before she finished speaking, Ning Fenbi came forward, knelt down, and said softly, "Grandma doesn't allow Hua to learn and play with Third Master anymore? But Hua likes learning those things with Third Master."

  Old Lady Jiang saw that her big eyes were shining with tears, and thought of Third Brother's lifelong loneliness. Now he had finally found a little girl to get close to him, wasn't it just like having a granddaughter? He was not like herself, with grandsons and granddaughters by her side, but only one Ning Fengbi to pamper and spoil. If even this were not allowed, not only would the young girl's heart be hurt, but Third Brother's old heart would also be lonely?

  Thinking of this, she let out a sigh and looked at Ning Fengbi: "You've been with Third Grandfather for three years now, what have you learned? Tell your grandmother about it."

  Ning Xianbi knew this was her only chance. What she had been most afraid of all along was that her family would use the excuse that she was too old to forbid her from going to Xinglin Garden to learn those things, and all her plans would be ruined.

  Cough cough, the peony has grown a bit bigger again. Continue to work hard and strive for clicks, recommendations, and collections! Woooowww!!!